Your Hosts

Hosts

Hosts Toni and Mark are ready to great you at Island Cottage, your Boutique Inn and Spa dedicated to your comfort and relaxation. Married in 1992, the two have combined their individual goals into one shared dream at Island Cottage.

Host Toni learned to read blueprints since the tender age of four, a skill which helped her design her Inn. Her formal education in the field of advertising and marketing was essential in developing her business.

Formerly a well know vocalist and performer in the New York metropolitan area, her musical accomplishments have earned numerous awards. She gained nation-wide recognition with an appearance on New York TV’s Joe Franklin show and a resulting offer by Warner Brothers Records for a 9 month touring contract. Her original tunes received air-time on major radio stations across the U.S. She was also a regular guest on “Sudzin Country”, a popular Country Music station in New Jersey. Below are her two YouTube Videos which showcase her Country originals “Remember” and “Take Me Back”.

Toni’s Recent Projects

Toni’s most recent projects include an autobiography/memoir about her compelling, uplifting and often spiritual journey through life. This 340 page book is was released on Amazon in 2017, and is available in paperback. You can locate the book on Amazon under “The Ebbingtide” by Toni Treworgy”. Toni is also working on several other books all in various stages of completion.

Her Accomplishments

Toni was recently in the studio recording her all country originals now available to the public on Amazon. She recorded a Christmas CD as well which includes one Christmas Original. Both CD’s are available on Amazon under her name Toni Treworgy – https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=Toni+Treworgy

Besides being absorbed in music, Toni is a successful architectural designer, poet, artist and chef. Her decorative touches and talents are evident throughout the Inn and in the Inn’s gift shop where her original watercolors, glass art, cards and prints are available. The gift shop also features her memoir, her CD’s and her cookbook. She is most well known for her watercolors depicting land and seascapes of serene & tranquil coves, beaches, rivers and marshlands.

About Host Mark

Host Mark’s education is in the field of engineering and naval architecture. He learned boat building while volunteering at New York’s South Street Seaport. His natural woodworking talent was so obvious, he was asked to train students of the CETA program. In 1979, he moved to Florida where he founded his own metal ship building yard. There he designed and built numerous custom sailing vessels and motor yachts.

During the first eight years of their marriage, Toni and Mark worked side by side at Mark’s Boatyard. Mark worked closely with the architects, supervised all aspects of the boat building projects, and was often seen welding and cutting metal along with his foreman John and his crew. Toni ran the office, was in charge of marketing, and as tons of steel were delivered, she personally unloaded the trucks with her own crane “Horton” named after the elephant from the Dr. Seuss books.

Mark’s custom built sailboats and yachts are up to 100 foot in length and many of them are Coast Guard certified chartering vessels for day-sailing passengers and luxurious overnight cruises. His boats are mostly seen along coastal New England, in the Great Lakes region, in Florida’s tropical waters or cruising the Caribbean.

The couple sold the boatyard in the year 1999 to follow Toni’s dream of designing and building a romantic oceanfront villa inn which was completed two years later.

Mark’s Hobbies

Mark’s hobbies include antique car restoration, woodworking and boat building. On occasion, guests have even been invited in to his private workshop where they have been able to watch the master as he worked on such projects as “Valentine”, a 1969 Jaguar E-Type restoration completed in September, 2005. Prior to being sold, “Valentine” was entered in two Jaguar Concours events where she won “Best in her class” with scores of 98 and 99.8 respectively. She was purchased by a couple in Daytona Beach when Mark auctioned her off on e-bay, … without a reserve !!

“Miss Lola” is another of Mark’s projects. She is a wooden Bahamian Dinghy designed, built and launched in the Island Cottage swimming pool during a fun filled Caribbean party. Miss Lola was recently sold to a family in Ormond Beach who sails her on the Intracoastal waterway.

Mark’s Recent Projects

Mark’s most recent project is the construction of a 44′, all aluminum yacht. He has already built the entire boat, has installed her windows and doors and has fully painted her exterior. “Toni Marie’s” twin, 130 hp John Deere engines are already in along with her washer/dryer, her stove/oven and her refrigeration. Over the past year he has made an enormous amount of progress working on the vessel’s interior bulkheads, galley cabinetry, cabinetry in the head, and the master stateroom’s berth, closet and wall-unit. She is beginning to take on the look of a fine yacht.

For those interested in boats, Mark is always delighted to take guests over to see the vessel at her dock, 2 miles north of the Inn. Just ask for a tour and be prepared to be amazed!

AWARDS

Within seven months of opening, Island Cottage was singled out as one of Florida’s top 10 inns by world renowned travel writer, Herb Hiller. More recently the Inn has received the designation as one of the 5 best Florida Inns by Florida Living Magazine & the industry’s “White Glove” award by “Superior Small Lodging.

The most recent of honors include being chosen as a “Select Registry – Distinguished Inns of North America” Property (since 2007), …
One of the “TOP 10 HIDDEN GEMS” in the United States – awarded by Trip Advisor, … and in 2013, …
One of the “Top 10 Most Romantic Inns in the WORLD” out of over 13,000 inns world-wide! (bedandbreakfast.com)

Island Cottage’s Green Practices also gained it recognition by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection who awarded Island Cottage with a Green Award for their environmental efforts – # 42 in the State to receive this award.

So, whether you are are on a romantic getaway, a surprise birthday celebration or a Mother-Daughter weekend of relaxation and pampering, Toni and Mark are dedicated to deliver you the peace and tranquility of this exquisite Boutique Inn and Spa where their magical atmosphere will become a fond memory sure to last you a lifetime!